Tape holder and dispenser

July 12, 1966

J. T. FERENCE

TAPE HOLDER AND DISPENSER

3,260,431

Filed Aug. 11, 1964

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United States Patent Office 3,260,431

Patented July 12, 1966

3,260,431

TAPE HOLDER AND DISPENSER Joseph T. Terence, Box 346, Weirton, W. Va.

Filed Aug. 11,1964, Ser. No. 388,892

Ciaims. (Cl. 225—66) . This invention concerns dispensing devices and, in particular, a dispensing device for a spool of tape or similar material which is equipped with a unique cutting device for severing the spooled material into desired lengths.

While the scope of the present invention includes all types of material that may be wound on a tubular core, it is directed in particular to the problems encountered when using hand manipulable rolls of adhesive tape, masking tape, and such like. The invention may be employed most advantageously with rolls of tape of narrow width mounted upon a correspondingly narrow core of large diameter. This type of core is used .so that the entire roll of tape may be easily grasped by the hand of the user. At the same time, it is highly desirable that some means be supplied for cutting the tape as it is peeled from the roll. However, this means must be small in size, easy to use, and designed with safety factors that will prevent the user from possible injury by contact with the cutting means employed. This is particularly true in the use of so-called masking tape which is used in all kinds of painting to sharply demarcate the border of a painted area.

Numerous devices designed for application to the above problems are old and well known in the art, but all possess specific, inherent disadvantages. Almost all of them are of complicated construction; thus they are too bulky to be used easily and fail rapidly when subjected to constant use. Additionally, it is difficult to attach and remove these devices from a roll of tape of the category ³³discussed above. Most importantly, almost all of these devices are equipped with a cutting element, either in the form of a serrated blade or razor blade, which extend outwardly from the roll of tape that such a device is mounted on. Thus it is easy for the user to injure him- ⁴⁰self or his work even if the user is extremely careful.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a tape cutter and dispenser having safety features incorporated therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide ⁴³a device of the above character which may be easily attached to and removed from a roll of tape.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tape cutting device which may be easily grasped by the hand of the user. 50

A further object of .the invention is to provide a tape dispenser having only one movable element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape dispenser having a removable cutting element.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to pro- ³³vide a tape cutting device which is of simple construction and thus extremely inexpensive to manufacture in large quantity.

Further and more complete objects of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the ⁶⁰following specifications and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention in use with parts broken away to show interior structure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1; 65

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3__3 of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 4—4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings by reference character, ⁷⁰there is shown, in FIG. 1 thereof, an ordinary roll of ad2 hesive or masking tape 10 wound about a cylindrical core 12. The invention proper generally includes a retaining element and a severing element, the former comprising arcuate flange 16 and sleeve guide 14, while the latter includes slidable support 18, head 20, and cutting blade 22. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the above items are made of molded plastic, in a two-stage operation. The retaining element comprises one unit, while the severing element comprises the other; the cutting blade is preferably made of metal or it may be molded plastic or other suitable material, depending on the composition of tape 10. As shown in the drawing, the blade 22 is embedded in the head 20 during the molding operation. To replace the blade in this construction, the entire severing element, 18-20-22 is discarded, a matter of no great significance when these parts are produced in large numbers. If expedient, the blade may be held in place on the head 20 as by screws and replaced in such manner. In addition, the invention may be constructed from wood or metal, or a combination of wood, metal and plastic, dependent on the degree of durability desired.

Flange 16 fits along the inner periphery of core 12 and is provided with a pair of retaining lips 24, 25, which retain the flange 16 on core 12. The length of flange 16 should be equal to or slightly greater than one half the inner circumference of core 12 in order to further assure the security of core 12 on said flange, while at the same time permitting the core, together with tape 10, to slide about flange 16.

Sleeve guide 14 is attached to arcuate flange 16 at the upper extremity thereof, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The upper end of guide 14 abuts the face of lip 24 and the entire sleeve guide 14 is angled downwardly and outwardly from the inner face of arcuate flange 16 to permit the fingers of a user to fit therebetween as will be explained below. When guide 14 and flange 16 are not made as a. unitary molded unit, the upper end of guide 14 is provided with a curved tongue 26 which extends from guide 14 at right angles thereto, and is secured to flange 16 by any suitable means such as rivets 28, 28. Sliding support element 18 fits within sleeve guide 14 and is retained therein by means of a slot 30 cut in sliding support 18 and a rivet 32, mounted in sleeve guide 14 through slot 30. This slot and rivet arrangement limits the vertical' displacement of support 18. Head element 20, mounted at the upper extremity of support 18 extends transversely across tape 10, as indicated in FIG. 2, and is provided with an extension 34, as indicated in FIG. 1, so as to provide a broad upper face 36 which is contacted by the thumb of a user as will be explained below.

Blade 22, mounted at the forward end of head element 20, is preferably longer than the width of tape 10 so that neat and clean severance of tape 10 is thereby assured. Additionally, blade 22 is angled outwardly and downwardly from head 20 to further assure a neat and clean severance of a strip of tape 10α from roll of tape 10. A sharp, right-angle severance of the exact desired length of tape is highly advantageous in certain applications of the invention. This is especially true in the cutting of masking tape.

The entire operation of the device will now be explained. The entire device is placed on the roll of tape by depressing end 38 of flange 16 slightly thereby permitting the device to be slipped on core 12. In order to peel off a strip 10α from roll 10, one merely grasps flange 16 about the belly thereof, places one’s thumb across upper face 36, and with the other hand withdraws strip 10α thereby sliding core 12 about flange 16. With a little thumb pressure added to head 20, strip 10α is peeled off along blade 22.

3,260,431

It may be determined from the foregoing that I have invented a novel yet extremely useful tape dispensing device which may be used in countless numbers of ways, and thus I am not to be limited to the exact construction provided herein, except as may be within the scope of 5 the appended claims.